London has been battered by 50mph winds that have felled trees and caused travel chaos. Powerful gusts swept across the capital as the Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" weather alert for most of the country.

David Cameron has dismissed calls for Ukip leader Nigel Farage to join the leaders’ debates on TV at the next general election.

The PM said only parties “that are going to form the government” should take part. The Lib-Dems and Ukip are both on about 10 per cent in the polls, but many experts predict Ukip will peak at the Euro elections in 2014.

On Question Time on BBC1 last night, Mr Farage said Mr Cameron “better not be booking studio time himself with confidence”.

But, asked about the prospect of Mr Farage taking part in the next leaders' debates, Mr Cameron told The House magazine: "Obviously, we have to decide on this nearer the time, but the TV debates should be about, you know, the parties that are going to form the government, in my view."

The Prime Minister has previously described Ukip as containing "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists".

Mr Cameron recently stirred Mr Farage's anger by refusing to retract the comment and saying there were "still some very odd people".